Meet the Manchester Terrier
KEENLY OBSERVANT, DEVOTED YET DISCERNING
“Luna” GCHS Earindil’s Moonstone At Heaven Hi
Sleek, spirited, and elegant, the Toy Manchester Terrier is a smaller version of the Standard Manchester, built for companionship and competition. With a rich black-and-tan coat and an alert expression, this diminutive dog combines the precision of a Terrier with the compact size of a Toy. Spirited, bright, and observant, Toy Manchesters love activity and are happiest with mental and physical stimulation.
With regards to size, our Breed Standard states, “The Toy variety shall not exceed 12 pounds,” and “The Standard variety shall be over 12 pounds and not exceeding 22 pounds.” Please note, there is no preference for size described within the weight limit. Historically, the breed was regarded for its versatility, which is partly due to the range of size found within the varieties. Judges should not disregard smaller specimens in either variety based on size alone. And finally, we strongly encourage judges to weigh an exhibit that may appear to be over the size limitation for its variety. Per our Standard: “The Toy variety over 12 pounds shall be excused. Disqualification: Standard Variety—Weight over 22 pounds.” Estimating a dog’s weight is a difficult task even for our most experienced breeders. If you should encounter an entry in either variety that you question whether it is in the allowable range for weight, the only proper recourse is to weigh the dog to confirm it is within the allowable range. It is a disservice to our breed, and to our exhibitors, for a judge to disregard an entry based on their estimate of its weight, or reward an exhibit with a disqualifying fault (Standard variety) or one that should be excused as indicated by our Breed Standard (Toy variety) for being outside the allowable range for weight.
“Judging the Manchester Terrier” Jo Ann Emrick, AMTC Judges Education SHOWSIGHT July 2025
Please visit showsightmagazine.com to learn more about the Toy Manchester Terrier.